Point-lever for use on railways and the like.



A. VELLERE.

POINT LEVER FOR USE ON RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-27 1913.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm, \VASHINGTON. u. c.

A. VELLERE. POINT LEVER FOR USE ON RAILWAYS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED T11R27, 1913 1 70 Patented Dec. 16, 1913 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, n. c.

mvirnn srarns rarest Wren.

ALGERNON VELLERE, 0F BARNES, ENGLAND.

POINT-LEVER FOR. USE ON BAILWAYS AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALGERNON VnLLieRn, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Barnes, Englandfliave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Point-Levers for Use on Railways and the like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to ground levers for operating railway switch points and the like.

Further the invention has for its object to provide simple, efficient and reliable means for operating switch points and the like, the construction and arrangement being such that the liability of the lever remaining in an intermediate or middle position, between the extreme or proper limits of its movements, is reduced to a minimum.

Further features of the invention will appear with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows in plan a lever constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the lever and Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the lever.

Like reference symbols refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing 1 is the lever for operating the switch points which lever 1 is bifurcated at its lower end so that two arms 2 are provided. Said arms 2 of the lever are pivotally connected at 3 to the upper end of a link 4 whose lower end 5 (which, as shown on the drawing is bifurcated) is pivotally connected at 6 to a projection or lug 7 provided or formed upon a slide or bar 8, to which slide or bar 8 are connected the operating connections to the switch points; as shown on the drawing these operating connections comprise a crank 9 and a rod connection 10, the said crank 9 being pivotally connected at 11 to the bifurcated end portion 12 of the slide or bar 8 and also pivotally connected at 13 to a base plate 14 the said crank 9 and rod connection 10 being also pivotally connected together at 15. The aforesaid slide or bar 8 works in or between suitable guides 16 formed or provided upon the base plate 14 (which may be a casting) which is suitably secured to the sleepers or other suitable supports on the permanent Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 27, 1913.

Patented eo. 16,1913.

Serial No. 751,067.

Way adjacent to the points to be operated. The lower end 2 of the lever 1 projects through and works in an opening or slot 16 in the base plate 1 and the bifurcated arms 2 of the said lever 1 are slotted at 17 so as to take about a transverse spindle or pin 18 supported by depending lugs or projections 19 formed or provided upon the under side of the base plate 14. Depending from the said spindle or pin 18 is another spindle 20 which passes through a cross piece 21 which is pivotally mounted in the lower bifurcated end portions 2 of the lever 1. Surrounding the said spindle 20 is a suitable coiled spring which is so arranged that it exerts pressure against the cross piece 21 before mentioned and thus tends to press the lever 1 always in a downward direction.

The before mentioned guides 16 are preferably shaped as shown in the drawing and provided with antifriction rollers 23 so positioned that the link 4 bears against one or other of them when the lever 1 is being moved thus forming fulcra for the link 4 to bear upon. The said guides also'preferably act as stops or abutments for limiting the movements of the lever 1. Also, if desired a suitable stop 24 may be provided upon the aforesaid slide or bar 8, this stop being adapted to abut against one of the before mentioned guide pieces 16 when the desired limit of movement of the lever 1 is reached.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When the lever 1 is pulled over to operate the switch point the link 4 bears against one of the antifriction rollers 23. This roller 23 forms a fulcrum and causes the power exerted on the lever 1 to be transmitted through the link 4 and its pivoted connections 6 to the slide or bar 8. This slide or bar 8 is moved by the said link 4 bearing against the roller 23 until the desired movement is reached, and the switch points are operated through the crank 9 and connecting rod 10. As will be seen from the chain dotted lines on the drawing when the lever is being moved over it is pulled upwardly by the cam action provided by the link 4 notwithstanding that the tendency of the spring 22 is to retain the lever l in its lowermost position. When the lever reaches the position indicated by the chain dotted lines the pressure exerted by the spring 22 is such that it pulls the lever 1 into its lowermost position thus causing the link 4 to be directed to a position opposite that in which it was before thelever was operated.

It will be understood from the drawing that with a lever constructed according. to this invention it is impossible for the switch points to remain in an intermediate position because the arrangement of the link 4 and the lever 1 is such that they are never in a vertical position together consequently the pressure exerted by the spring. 22 upon the lever 1 causes the link i to move to one or the other limits of its movement and so tends to move the slide or bar 8 and its connections to their desired position. Instead of the hereinbetore mentioned spring 22 a suitable balance weight might be provided upon the end of the lever l and would answer the same purpose as the spring 22.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. In apparatus for operating railway and like switch. points and of the kind comprising a base plate or frame on which is mounted a spindle or pin on which the point operating lever is pivotally mounted, and a slide movable on the said base plate and having operatively connected to it the rod and crank connections tothe switch points, means being provided for limiting the movements of the point operating lever, a link or connecting piece pivotally connected at its lower end to the aforesaid slide and at its upper end pivotally connected to the point operating lever, stops on the base plate forming abutments against which the said link bears when movement is given to the lever for operating the switch points, and means tending to force the lever longitudinally downward, all arranged so as to operate for the purposes set forth.

2. In ground lever apparatus for op.-

erating railway and like switch points, the combination, with the point operating lever and a base plate which carries a spindle or pin with which the said lever is in pivotal engagement, of a slide or bar to which the operating connections to the switch points are attached, guides on the said ;base plate and between which the said slide works, a link or connecting piece pivotally connected at its opposite ends respec tively to the said slide and to thepoint operating lever, stops on the-baseplate which form abutments against which the said link bears whenv the lever is being moved over from one position to the other, and means acting on the point operating lever so as to move it downwardly in the direction of the lengthof said lever, all arranged so as to operate substantially as for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination, with a supporting frame, and a points operating lever pivotally connected thereto and free to slide longitudinally to a limited extent of a slide carried by the frame and provided with means for connecting it with the switch points, a link having its upper and lower end portions pivoted. tothe said lever and slide respectively, fulcrum abutments on the frame for the "said link to bear against when the said lever is moved pivotally to operate the points, and means tending to move the said lever longitudinally in a downward direction. V

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa ture, in presence of two witnesses.

ALGERNON VELLEREZ Witnesses: v

MORTON H. B RKER, ARTHUR T. WAGHOLM.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five" cents each, by addressing theffommissioirer of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

